Two cultural exhibitions take the spotlight in Paris

Two exhibitions marking the 50th anniversary of the Sino-French relationship kicked off at the Association des Amis de Nouvelles d'Europe in the French capital, Paris, on Sept 8. The event aims to deepen exchanges and understanding between the two sister cities. Over one hundred guests from China and France attend the opening ceremony.

Guests from China and France attend the opening ceremony of the two cultural exhibitions at the Association des Amis de Nouvelles d'Europe in Paris on Sept 8, 2014. [Photo/CRI]

"The Villa of Dr. Jean Bussiere (1872-1960), a French Doctor in Beijing" is divided into three sections themed "Doctor," "Neighbor" and "Friend." Through a number of photos, objects, video and staged scenes, the exhibition brings to life Bussiere's 41 years of helping the Chinese people and contributing to China's anti-Fascist war in Beijing. The exhibition will run from Sept 8 to 16.

The other exhibition, which presents the story of China's Old Summer Palace, or Yuanmingyuan, is being staged at the Association des Amis de Nouvelles d'Europe and the Xinhua Gallery. It will run until Sept 18.

Valuable replicas of relics, models, documents and priceless photographs will be displayed in an attempt to reproduce the beautiful scenery, amazing landscape, rich imperial customs and fantastic architecture of Yuanmingyuan, dubbed the "garden of all gardens."

Visitors can take a virtual tour of the imperial garden's vast collection of treasures at the tech-friendly exhibition and watch a 3D film about the palace's gardens.

In displaying the garden's past brilliance, the stark changes it underwent and its rebirth, the exhibition aims to motivate visitors to think back on history and cherish China's great historical and cultural heritage.

The exhibition will also offer visitors a rare chance to truly experience traditional Chinese art forms, including calligraphy, painting and Peking Opera.

It's the third time that Yuanmingyuan has "gone abroad" since the garden and palace complex was built some 300 years ago.

Yuanmingyuan's first two overseas exhibitions were held in Berlin (Germany) and Moscow (Russia) in December 2012 and September 2013, attracting great international interest in the garden and in Chinese culture overall.

"As a friendly messenger of the Sino-French relationship, I'm honored to bring the two exhibitions to French friends. I hope visitors here can feel the deep friendship between China and France, and also enjoy the art form of Yuanmingyuan and the beauty of Beijing through the exhibitions," said Bai Jie, deputy secretary general of the Beijing International Culture Association.

The exhibitions are organized by the China International Culture Association, Beijing International Culture Association, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in France and the People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of Haidian District, with support from the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality.